The changes in the children even from the first day is AMAZING! The love at HOPE RANCH is contageous! No one leaves the property unchanged! God+Animals+Kids=Miracles!
My children are clients at Hope Ranch and the results have been beyond amazing. They are more confident and calm. People know that something significant has happened with them this summer.
I have been a volunteer at Hope Ranch for the past three years; it has become like a second home to me. I love going and spending my time with the goats, the horses, and especially the kids. It is a great thing the Shelton's have started in the Ponca City community and I would love to see it exist and thrive for a long time to come. When I first started volunteering, I have to say I did not know that much about kids with special needs, the Shelton's taught me what to do and were always very helpful when I had a question. Now three years later, I find myself answering the questions asked by all the new volunteers. I pride myself in being able to make pretty much anyone smile, but when I go out there I realize that the kids make me smile as much as I do them. On the mornings I go out to volunteer in the summer I always wake up with a smile on my face because I am going to do what I love to do, teach kids about the love of horses, and how horses can help in so many different ways. The love the Shelton's (and the horses) have for the kids is something special, and I would love to be a part of this organization for many years to come. I would recommend that everyone should come and visit Hope Ranch at least once to be able to feel the love and happiness that is shared there.
Hope Ranch is a wonderful place for young and old a like. The Ranch helps children gain confidence in all aspects of life. They learn responsiblities about the whole ranch: feeding animals such as dogs, pigs, goats, donkeys, and horses. Grooming and care of horses adds to the delight of learning to ride the animals. They also water plants and care for the fish in the fish pond. All the activities help the child to grow and be a responsible person. It's a great ministry to the city and area of Ponca City, Ok.
Hope Ranch provides children with the opportunity to learn about, ride, and love horses while at the same time building strength, courage and responsibility in the children who attend. Two of my children have participated in the activities at Hope Ranch, and they have terrific memories. This is a great way to help kids and I appreciate the hard work and dedication the people of Hope Ranch show.
Horses never cease to amaze me. They connect with the children and youth at Hope Ranch with a depth of understanding and patience in a miraculous way. The children and youth learn to trust, some have never known trust. Confidence is gained where before obstacles hindered their paths. Hope Ranch is a "Can Do" place not an "I Can't" place. As a volunteer of four years I have been blessed to see this transpire. Smiles are abound and the horses enjoy the Hope Ranch experience equally. One morning Gallop, a favorite at Hope Ranch, was found standing at the hitching post, not haltered or tied, ready to enjoy her time with the kids. When Gallop's eyes look in mine, we know our prupose in life.
I am the mother of a special needs child that rides out at the Hope Ranch. it has been the best thing for her they say that horses can help heal and I truely feel that is true. As a parent I see the joy and relaxation that she has when she rides. I will always feel that the Lord gave the children and even the adults this place to help us all heal and becopme better people.
My daughter has been riding horses at Hope Ranch this summer. She has gotten a lot of confidence from doing this. She tells everyone she sees that she rides horses at Hope Ranch.
The Shelton's have been so great with her. I really appreciate all that they are doing not only for my daughter but also for so many others.
They also seem to have plenty of volunteers ready and willing to help out.
You can definitely tell that they have a heart for this ministry. We plan on enrolling again in the fall.
Horses and children just go together. The way the Sheltons and the volunteers put these two together to help meet the inner needs of the children is amazing. This ministry has been blessed by God
Kids and horses! Having both have always been a lifelong dream of mine. When I found I was unable to have children of my own, I was crushed. After several years of marriage, my husband and I decided to foster children in need. The plan was to help as many kids as we could in maybe 3 to 5 years. After 11 years of foster parenting, we have adopted five wonderful children! My husband and I discovered we had a heart for children somewhere along the way. We met Dr. Darrel and Debbie Shelton at church. They also have hearts for children, and horses. When they first started Hope Ranch, I volunteered, and my two oldest children participated. Later, our third child participated.Hope Ranch provides one horse, with one volunteer for each child. Hope Ranch aslo teaches children about Christ, the Hope in Hope Ranch. Our oldest, now 11, has ADHD, RAD, ODD, which makes focusing and staying on task very hard. We have noticed that since she has been going to the ranch, having one on one time with a volunteer, showing her how she can focus and follow-through has greatly improved her confidence in school and at home. Our second child was timid, insecure, and 'flighty'. At age 9, she still has a 'blanky'. Although now that she has gained some confidence and matured quite a bit, as a direct result of participating at Hope Ranch, she only has her 'blanky' at night (she no longer carries it to school, or anywhere else in public). Our third child, age 8, is MR, ADHD, FASD... This child feared everything before participating at the ranch. We have watched her blossom into a more trusting, and less fearful child. She has even started to trust us and let us teach her how to ride a bike, and she is starting to get over her fear of water. With each year the girls participate at the ranch, they grow more confident in their abilities. Our third daughter has not only began to trust in people, but has trusted in Jesus as her personl Lord and Saviour!! I can't wait until my two youngest children are old enough to participate!